Back in middle school, when I was discovering fantasy books and reading through my school library, one of the very first series that I found and devoured was Susan Cooper’s The Dark is Rising sequence. The library initially only had the first two or three books, but over the course of my time there,...
I think that if I were more knowledgeable about the mythology that Cooper is drawing upon for the world she has created, I would have enjoyed this more. I'm familiar with the Greeks, but only just barely acquainted with the more well-known characters from other traditions. I didn't find the characte...
Originally read: 1979My absolute favorite series as a child. One of these days I need to reread it. (ETA: see below.) A bit like Harry Potter, but darker in tone (and of course, Will Stanton predates Harry Potter by decades). A shame that Hollywood's treatment of this classic book was so epically ba...
It didn't grab me quite as much on this reread as all the previous ones, so I might have been inclined to rate it 4 stars. However, considering how much pleasure I've derived from reading this book multiple times over the decades, anything less than 5 stars feels unfair. Especially since it could ha...
Overall I'd say I prefer stories about heroes who become, rather than who are chosen. But if it the author is relying on fate, how better than to use time travelers and incorporate all the myths of the British Isles?The compressed time period of the winter holidays works well. I like that Will has a...
'When the Dark comes rising, six shall turn it back;Three from the circle, three from the track;Wood, bronze, iron; water, fire, stone;Five will return, and one go alone.''Iron for the birthday, bronze carried long;Wood from the burning, stone out of song;Fire in the candle-ring, water from the thaw...
A 2.5 star review.I'm very obviously the exception that proves the rule. I thought Over Sea, Under Stone was heaps better than The Dark is Rising. Probably mostly because I like the Drew kids better than Will. I never really got to care for him the way I did the others.A shame, because I really want...
This is more like 2.5 stars, I suppose, but after spending two evenings on it, wishing for something exciting to happen and it never did, I don't feel charitable enough.Overall impression: meh. It had some good bits, and I sort of liked Will, but in general... dull plot, so much telling instead of s...
Such a cracking adventure. Cooper never gives you much pause from the action and I love Will and Merriman as much now as I ever did. I like the Stantons but this is one of those books when I swing back to being annoyed at Cooper's presentation of female characters. Will's brothers get to occasionall...
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